QPR blow chance to go third in stormy stalemate
LATE winners have become a Queens Park Rangers trademark in recent weeks as their Premier League promotion push gathers real momentum. On this occasion, despite plenty of perspiration, they could not find that moment of magic to break down stubborn Swansea. Mark Warburton’s side did not quite do enough to clamber above Bournemouth and into third in the Championship but extended their unbeaten run to a sixth game in all competitions. They came closest when Luke Amos hit the post in the second half but there could be few complaints with the stalemate. The Welsh side are 17th but have games in hand on almost everybody above them because of Covid postponements. Russell Martin is trying to get Swansea playing in an attractive way and you cannot rule them out of a late play-off surge. A dreary first-half tested fan dedication on a chilly night. Some of Swansea’s passing moves were neat but a killer ball evaded them when in the orbit of the Rangers box. The first chance of note took 26 minutes to materialise and Chris Willock’s weak shot was easily saved by Ben Hamer. Willock did better when given space on the left a few minutes later. His whipped delivery was inch-perfect for Charlie Austin but the striker guided his header straight at Hamer from point-blank range. Austin was relieved to see the offside flag go up but replays showed the linesman was incorrect. Swansea started the second half with intent and David Marshall was troubled for the first time to touch Joel Piroe’s shot around the post. The game came to life and Amos saw his effort come back off the inside of the far post. Lyndon Dykes could have won it for QPR but Hamer denied him before Michael Obafemi thought he had clinched it for Swansea when he poked it in, only to see the flag raised again. In added time, Austin and Downes contested a header and then grabbed one another’s shirts, with the QPR striker thrown to the ground. It was senseless from Downes, already on a booking, and he received his marching orders.